Ships Ahoy!

Cruise Ships Flock to Baliís Southern Port of Benoa in Record Numbers

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(12/29/2011)

Bali’s Benoa harbor is scheduled to be visited by 38 ships cruise ships in 2012, including the Legend of the Sea measuring 264 meters.

Beritabali.com reports that Iwan Sabatini, General Manager of PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (PELINDO), the port managers for Benoa, explained that the “large” Legend of the Sea will be able to use the port due to a widening of the port basin by an additional 150 meters and dredging to a depth of 9.5 meters.

According to Iwan, Benoa is much in demand by cruise operators due to its proximity to the main tourism areas of Bali’s south.

Iwan continued: “In the future, cruise ships that come to Indonesia will increase in number and be of 200 to 300 meters in length. This will demand that we create piers and ports of sufficient capacity and berths with up to 12 meters of depth.”

In 2011, the Benoa port recorded 35 cruise ship visits, exceeding by 25% a target set by the port of 28 ships.